Signal lanterns. Beacons. Light towers. These old-fashioned terms for lighthouses completely match the historic setting of Old Baldy Lighthouse, North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse. Built in 1817, keepers of the night kept the light burning through all types of weather until Old Baldy was deactivated in 1935.

Today the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage serve as an iconic landmark. Located on Bald Head Island, both are still exposed to the elements 24/7.

While dedicated workers shore up the lighthouse, they no longer have to be anxious about storms damaging the roof on the rebuilt keeper’s cottage. The 2020 installation of an impact-resistant DaVinci Multi-Width Shake roof replaced a deteriorated real shake roof.

“Knowing we have a roof we can trust on this structure makes all the difference,” says Adriana Ford with The Old Baldy Foundation. “It’s one less thing to worry about when a storm is approaching. That’s invaluable to our small team when we’re tasked with protecting Old Baldy and its facilities.”

Roof’s 5-Year Report Card

During the five years since the composite shake roof was installed by SOS Roofing on the cottage, the barrier island has been under siege by severe weather. Tropical Storms Elsa and Debbie attacked the island on all sides. Hurricanes Isaac and Ian took aim at the tiny space of land that’s less than four square miles and caused massive damage.

“We’ve seen extremely high winds, heavy rainfall and flooding with all these storms,” says Ford. “During the heavier storms we’ve witnessed the keeper’s cottage have wear to areas like exterior walls, fencing and landscaping. However, the DaVinci roof remains completely intact with no damage at all.”

Advantages of Synthetic Shake Roofing

The synthetic shake tiles on the keeper’s cottage are made of virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers as well as a highly specialized fire retardant. The Class A fire and Class 4 impact resistant roofing from DaVinci resists sea spray, salt air and humidity, making it ideal for the island location.

Importantly, the DaVinci tiles also resist algae and mold development. Since the building is located directly under oak trees, it always stays damp. That situation led to lots of mold and mildew growth on the original natural shake roof. Not a problem since the DaVinci roof has been installed.

Looking Ahead

Moving into the 2025 Hurricane Season, North Carolina State University predicts 12 to 15 named storms in the Atlantic basic. Ford may be a bit concerned about Old Baldy and the property, but not about the roof on the keeper’s cottage. “We have a high level of confidence in the DaVinci roof,” says Ford. “Its proven durability gives us peace of mind that this historic building is well protected, even in extreme weather conditions.

“We’ve all been impressed with the DaVinci roof. It was a significant investment. However for us, the long-term performance and security it provides during coastal storms has made it more than worthwhile.

“We’re proud to have a roof overhead that lives up to its promises and helps us preserve such an important piece of history.”

DaVinci Roofs Offer Long-Lasting Peace of Mind

Our Customer Support team listens to your roofing needs and can assist you with finding the long-lasting DaVinci roof that’s right for  your home. Contact a Project Specialist today.